14 days Delhi to Delhi (or Mumbai) Embark on a colourful journey through remarkable Rajasthan. Explore the legendary Golden Triangle of Delhi, Jaipur and Agra, before going in search of tigers in Ranthambore, visiting holy Pushkar, the Blue city of Jodphur and the beautiful town of Udaipur. Opt to finish your tour back in Delhi or head south to Mumbai, the home of Bollywood. HIGHLIGHTS AND INCLUSIONS Trip Highlights Peaceful Udaipur - The tranquil Lake Pichola, and the delightful City Palace Ranthambore National Park - Games drives in search of the elusive Bengal tiger and exotic Indian wildlife The Blue City of Jodhpur - The skyline dominating Meherangarh Fort, the regal Jodphur Palace and the beautiful Thar Desert Ranakpur - The intricately designed Ranakpur Jain temple Pushkar - A sacred lakeside town, home to Pushkar Lake and the revered Brahma Temple Old and New Delhi - Humayun's Tomb, India's largest mosque Jama Masjid and - 14 days Gandhi's crematorium Raj Ghat. Take a Rickshaw ride through Delhi's backstreets. The spectacular Taj Mahal - India's most famous monument in all its glory at sunset Agra - The beautiful Agra Fort Karauli - A former princely state. Stay in the Maharaja's Palace Fatehpur Sikri - An ancient abandoned Mughal city The Pink City of Jaipur - The lofty Amber Fort, regal City Palace and ancient observatory of Jantar Mantar What's Included 13 breakfasts, 2 lunch, 4 dinners 13 nights - 3-4 star and heritage hotels & jungle lodge Rickshaw ride in Delhi 3 game drives in shared canter at Ranthambore National Park Boat cruise on Lake Pichola in Udaipur Economy class flight - Udaipur - Delhi All relevant transfers and transportation Airport arrival and departure transfers on day 1 and day 14 Touring of Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Karauli, Pushkar, Ranakpur, Jodhpur and Udaipur Escorted by an English-speaking Indian tour guide (for groups of 6 or more) Services of English-speaking Indian specialist guides at some sites What's Not Included Tipping Kitty: USD$45-55, paid in local currency Entrance Fees: USD$90-100, paid in local currency International flights and visas Tip for your tour guide. We recommend you allow $3-7 USD per day per traveller. Tipping your tour guide is an entirely personal gesture ITINERARY Day 1 : Delhi Saturday. Upon arrival into Delhi, you'll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the day is free to relax or explore this bustling capital city. Overnight - Delhi Day 2 : Old Delhi Sights This morning, our Welcome Meeting takes place. We then enjoy a full day sightseeing tour of Old and New Delhi, taking in Humayun's Tomb, Jama Masjid - India s oldest and largest mosque and Raj Ghat - the site of Gandhi s -1-
cremation in Old Delhi, and in New Delhi Rajpath and India Gate. Tonight, we enjoy a group Namaste dinner at our hotel. Overnight - Delhi (B, D) Day 3 : The Taj Mahal (181st in the Royal Dynasty) and Maharani of Karauli have recently opened the doors of their stately Palace Bhanwar Vilas, built in 1938, as a 3-4 star heritage hotel and we'll spend the night here. During our stay we can explore the palace, guest quarters, banquet and reception halls, stables and grounds at leisure. The sovereigns, continue to reside at the palace and the young princess often gives guided tours of the palace, which we will take part in, if the opportunity arises. The family is also lovingly restoring the Karauli City Palace, which we visit later this afternoon. Tonight, opt to attend the evening Aaarti (prayer) taking place nearby. Overnight Karauli (B, L, D) Days 7-8 : Ranthambore National Park by the order of Emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th century in affectionate memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz, the Taj Mahal is perhaps one of the most extravagant monuments to love ever built and has no peers. Overnight - Agra (B) any educational items with you to hand out to children this would be the time to do so. Then we drive on to Jaipur, the bustling capital of the state of Rajasthan. The rest of the day is free for you to spend at your own leisure. Overnight Jaipur (B, L) Jaipur - Ranthambore. After breakfast on day 7, we set out by road to Ranthambore National Park. Upon arrival we will check in to our hotel and have time to freshen up before embarking on an evening game drive. For a relatively small area, the park offers a rich diversity of fauna and flora including sambar, chital, nilgai, wild boar, leopard, sloth bear and myriad birdlife as well as the Bengal tiger. Ranthambore is one of the prime examples of Project Tiger's excellent conservation efforts in Rajasthan. The following day we enjoy morning and afternoon game drives with some time to relax during the day. Overnight - Ranthambore National Park (B:2, L:1, D:2) Day 4 : Fatehpur Sikri & Karauli Day 6 : Jaipur Day 9 : Pushkar Very early this morning there is the opportunity to sail over the lotfy hilltop forts and regal palaces of Jaipur in a hot air balloon. We then travel beyond Jaipur to the stunning 16th Ranthambore - Pushkar. Back on the road today we make our way to the sleepy lakeside town of Pushkar. Famous for the annual Pushkar Camel Fair, Pushkar is an ancient Rajasthani town which is considered by Hindus to be one of the most sacred places in India. Upon arrival we'll enjoy a break for lunch before heading out on a sightseeing tour of Pushkar Lake - which is believed to have curative powers, and the Brahma Temple - one of the few temples in the world dedicated to this deity. Overnight - Pushkar (B) Delhi - Agra. Departing Delhi, we make our way to Agra, the erstwhile capital of the Mughal empire. Our first stop here is the impressive Agra Fort, which boasts some of India's finest Mughal buildings behind its fortified walls. Later we travel on to the legendary Taj Mahal. Built Agra - Karauli. Bright and early this morning we visit the ghostly former Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri, which has been deserted for over four centuries after it was allegedly abandoned due to a lack of water. Thanks to the very durable red sandstone from which it was built, Fatehpur Sikri still remains well-preserved and is a fascinating place to explore. The highlight of today is our arrival in the rural village of Karauli, which was a princely state of India from 1348 until 1949. The current Maharaja - 14 days Day 5 : Jaipur Karauli - Jaipur. This morning we make a quick visit to the children and teachers at a local school (if open) where we operate our Change for Children programme. If you have bought century Amber Fort where we enjoy a tour of the fort's well-preserved interior and grounds. Later we visit a cotton weaving house to see a demonstration of fabric dyeing and block printing before touring the City Palace and Jantar Mantar - an old yet cleverly designed space observatory. Overnight - Jaipur (B) -2-
Day 10 : Jodhpur - the blue city guided tour. Then there's free time to explore the shops and markets of this charming town before an evening cruise on picturesque Lake Pichola. Overnight - Udaipur (B:2) Day 13 : Fly back to Delhi Seven Hills Tower Pushkar - Jodhpur. This morning we drive to Jodhpur, a charming town located on the eastern edge of the Thar Desert. Dubbed the Blue City due to the distinctive colour of its old town houses, the city is dominated by the grand Meherangarh Fort which sits on a hilltop within the ancient walls of the old city. Upon arrival we'll break for lunch before a late afternoon tour of this colourful city, taking in the mighty fort and bazaars of the old city which are gathered around the city s tall clock tower. Followed by free time to bargain for local wares, from spices to richly coloured textiles and ornaments. Overnight - Jodhpur (B) Days 11-12 : Ranakpur & Udaipur City Palace Udaipur - Delhi. This morning a departure transfer takes us to the airport to board our morning flight to Delhi. Upon arrival the afternoon is free for you to relax at the hotel or to head out and further explore Delhi. There is the option to travel onward to Mumbai, see note below. Overnight - Delhi (B) Day 14 : Delhi Friday. After breakfast our our comes to an end. Following hotel check-out transfer to the airport for your onward travel. (B) HOTELS The hotels listed below are ones which we frequently use on this tour. We reserve the right to substitute these hotels to ones of a similar standard when necessary. The Piccadily Jodhpur - Udaipur. On the morning of day 11 we drive to Ranakpur, a small town tucked away in a remote valley which famed for its beautiful 14th century Jain temples. We stop for lunch and visit Ranakpur Temple before continuing south to Udaipur, arriving late afternoon. Udaipur is a beautiful town set on the shores of picturesque Lake Pichola. A favourite amongst traveller, Udaipur is viewed as one of Rajasthan s most romantic cities and is brimming with palaces and temples. On day 12 we explore Udaipur and the majestic City Palace on a - 14 days The modern and stylish Seven Hills Tower hotel boasts a range of facilities and services designed to ensure the quality of each traveller's stay. Guests can enjoy a dip in the rooftop pool or laze on the sun loungers before heading to the equally lofty restaurant for some mouth-watering Mughlai cuisine. The spacious guestrooms are elegantly decorated with neutral colours and fabrics covered with traditional patterns and all have excellent ensuite facilities. Why not head to the rooftop pool and al fresco dining area for beautiul views of the Taj - perfect for a sunset drink. The grand lobby of the Piccadily is a perfect introduction to this elegant luxury property. Rooms are bright, airy and furnished in a sophisticated and contemporary fashion. Staff are helpful, attentive and go above and beyond to make sure your stay is a memorable and happy one. Dining at popular Zune and contemporary Twenty-9 is highly recommended. Located in the west of town, close to the airport. Access to the rest of the city is very simple with the Janakpuri West Metro station just next door. Bhanwar Vilas Palace Built in 1938, this stunning property is the residence of the Maharaja (181st in the Royal Dynasty) and Maharani of Karauli. Both the architecture and furniture have been designed in fitting with colonial styles. Rooms are split between deluxe rooms and luxury suites, each including a range of modern amenities such as a mini bar, a well-appointed ensuite and a plush king-sized bed. In the evenings, guests can tuck into an array of regional specialities as well as cuisine from around the world in the hotel's restaurant. The hotel is just 7km from the nearest train station. Mandawa Haveli -3-
The beautiful heritage style Mandawa Haveli is a fine example of typical Rajasthan architecture - set in terraced gardens with pretty courtyards. All rooms are well appointed with intricately carved wooden beds and king-size royal portraits. An evening spent enjoying a lavish Rajasthani dinner in front of a traditional folk dance is highly recommended. Well located in the heart of Jaipur city on Sansar Chandra Road, just a few minute s drive from the Palace of the Winds. Ranthambore Heritage Haveli Departure dates noted with a 'G' are guaranteed to operate. All other departure dates are guaranteed with a minimum of 2 persons. Prices shown are per person travelling. 'Twin/Double' prices per person Karni Bhawan The charming and intimate red stone 1940s bungalow, Karni Bhawan has been tastefully restored to its former beauty. Guest rooms are spacious and modern but still in keeping with classic Rajasthani design. The outdoor pool s perfect for relaxing by and the food here is top notch, it s even been showcased at Switzerland's food festivals for the past 10 years. Set in beautiful lush green gardens on Palace Road, Jodhpur very near to Umaid Bhawan Palace. Set amongst well manicured gardens, the Ranthambore Heritage Haveli offers stylish and intimate accommodation in a enviable location. Guest rooms are elegantly designed with excellent amenities including large TV's and beautiful rain showers. The haveli also benefits from a refreshing outdoor pool, a multi-cuisine restaurant and complimentary Wi-Fi. Why not start the day with a refreshing dip in the outdoor pool - a perfect way to energise your day! Pushkar Resort The Pushkar is a warm, family managed hotel and a tranquil oasis set in 15 acres of gardens. Each cottage is constructed from local, authentic stonework and provides an exceptionally high level of comfort, topped off with quaint patchwork furnishings. In the restaurant, guests can treat themselves to a range of cuisines from Asia and Europe. A variety of different and massages are also available in the spa. The hotel is 4 km from Pushkar town, at the edge of desert. - 14 days Hotel Hilltop Palace As the name suggests, the Hilltop Hotel is set on a hill overlooking Udaipur's famous Lake Fatehsagar. The hotel perfectly combines effortless service with harmonious spaces and is the perfect setting to enjoy a stay in Udaipur. The tastefully decorated guest rooms are complete with marble inlay and have individual open terraces looking over the stunning lake. Having a cocktail at Zannat, the open air roof top restaurant, is the perfect place to watch the sun go down. Perfectly located on the top of Ambavgarh Hill overlooking Lake Fetehsagar and Swaroop Sagar. PRICES / DATES INFO apply when there are 2 people travelling, sharing a room. The ' supplement' applies for single travellers who would like their own room and needs to be added to the 'Twin/Double' price. If you are happy to be paired up with another single traveller of the same sex on your tour, this can be arranged, thus avoiding the single person supplement. PRICES / DATES 2018 13 Jan 27 Jan 10 Feb 17 Feb 10 Mar 24 Mar 07 Apr 21 Apr 05 May 06 Oct 20 Oct 03 Nov 10 Nov 17 Nov 01 Dec 15 Dec 29 Dec USD 4,185 PRICES / DATES 2019 05 Jan 19 Jan 02 Feb 16 Feb 02 Mar 13 Mar 16 Mar 30 Mar 20 Apr 27 Apr 11 May USD 4,185-4-
PRICES / DATES 2019 05 Oct 19 Oct 02 Nov 09 Nov 16 Nov 30 Nov 14 Dec 28 Dec - 14 days -5-